A federal judge in West Texas has ruled that a Saudi student accused of trying to make a weapon of mass destruction is mentally competent to stand trial. US District Judge Sam Cummings issued his ruling Tuesday after prosecutors in the case against Khalid Ali Al-Dawsari submitted a report from his psychiatric evaluation. Al-Dawsari underwent a competency exam at a prison medical facility in Missouri. His defense offered no argument but asked that the report be sealed. Cummings ordered it sealed. Al-Dawsari's trial is scheduled to begin April 30 in Lubbock, Texas. Court documents allege the US college student planned to attack various targets, including sites in New York City and former president George W. Bush's home in Dallas. Al-Dawsari entered the US legally. Al-Dawsari was arrested in February 2011 after he attempted to purchase a large amount of a suspicious chemical. An FBI investigation uncovered bomb-making materials in his apartment, as well as emails and journal entries in which he discussed planning attacks. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney says he plans to use an insanity defense.
